2Q 2005 operations review
Rio Tinto PLC
20 July 2005
Second quarter 2005 operations review
• Most operations continued to produce at, or near, capacity in response
to strong demand.
• Hamersley produced and shipped record volumes of iron ore in the second
quarter as commissioning of the major infrastructure expansion progressed.
Production of both copper and gold from the Grasberg mine was also
significantly higher than in the comparative period of 2004 when the
focus was on recovery from the 2003 material slippage.
• Mining at Kennecott Utah Copper favoured higher molybdenum grade ore to take
advantage of the strong market for that product. First half molybdenum
production was in excess of full year production for 2004. The scheduled
smelter maintenance shut down, which impacted refined copper and gold
production, was completed as planned.
• First half alumina production was 45 per cent higher than the first half
of 2004 due to the ramp-up of the new Comalco Alumina Refinery and continued
process stability at QAL and Eurallumina. All the aluminium smelters
continued to operate at, or close to, capacity.
• Australian coal production remained constrained by port and rail capacity.
The approval of a queue management system at Dalrymple Bay resulted in
shorter vessel queues, but only towards the end of the period.
• An agreement to form a joint venture to develop the Hope Downs iron ore
deposits in Western Australia was announced in July 2005. The development
of the project will further strengthen Rio Tinto's position as Australia's
prime supplier of iron ore.
All currency figures in this report are US Dollars unless otherwise stated.
IRON ORE
Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes)
Q2 05 vs Q2 04 vs Q1 05 H1 05 vs H1 04
Hamersley 22,846 +24% +22% 41,501 +21%
Robe River 6,489 -9% -1% 13,061 +4%
IOC (pellets and concentrate) 2,459 +12% +22% 4,472 +7%
Demand was strong from all markets throughout the first half of the year and
production was at record levels. Brownfield mine expansions at Tom Price,
Marandoo and Nammuldi were announced in April 2005 to add to the extensive mine,
rail and port expansion, construction of which is now well advanced. In July
2005 an agreement to form a joint venture with Hancock Prospecting for the
development of the Hope Downs project was announced. This will further
strengthen Rio Tinto's position as the prime supplier of iron ore from
Australia. The new HIsmelt (R) direct iron smelting plant entered its
commissioning phase in the second quarter of 2005. First hot metal was produced
in mid-June.
Hamersley
Hamersley achieved record production and shipments in both the second quarter
and the first half of the year. Commissioning of the major port and rail
infrastructure expansion has commenced and will continue progressively through
the second half of the year.
Robe River
First half production was a record although May shipments were affected by heavy
rain at Cape Lambert, and West Angelas production was affected by a planned two
week shutdown as part of the expansion of capacity to 25 million tonnes per
annum.
Iron Ore Company of Canada
Improved employee productivity under the new collective agreement and improved
plant availability resulted in record first half pellet production, nine per
cent above the first half of 2004. Concentrate production increased due to mill
infrastructure upgrades.
ENERGY
US thermal coal
Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes)
Q2 05 vs Q2 04 vs Q1 05 H1 05 vs H1 04
Kennecott Energy 28,916 +0% -1% 58,156 +3%
Second quarter production was marginally below the first quarter of the year as
shipments were disrupted by two train derailments on the main line in May and
ongoing railroad maintenance. Increased railroad maintenance is expected to
continue through the summer, and possibly later into the year, which will
adversely affect Powder River Basin coal shipments.
Approval was given for the expansion of Antelope mine and development of the
West Antelope reserves which were recently purchased. At a capital cost of
US$87 million, this will facilitate the optimisation of the current facilities
and enable production to be increased in line with market demand.
Australian coal
Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes)
Q2 05 vs Q2 04 vs Q1 05 H1 05 vs H1 04
Rio Tinto Coal Australia
Hard coking coal 1,952 -7% +3% 3,855 +17%
Other coal 7,298 -15% -9% 15,290 -4%
Available port and rail capacity continued to constrain export shipments from
the Australian coal operations. A queue management system was successfully
implemented at Dalrymple Bay from late April although it was only in the latter
part of the period that the vessel queue reduced significantly.
At the port of Newcastle, where a capacity balancing system has been in place
for over a year, June sales were affected by longer vessel queues due to
producers scheduling of vessels to meet second quarter shipment allocations.
Production volumes reflect both the effects of shipping constraints and the
normal variation in line with the mining sequence.
INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes)
Q2 05 vs Q2 04 vs Q1 05 H1 05 vs H1 04
Borates 146 +4% +20% 268 -2%
Titanium dioxide feedstock 328 +13% +2% 649 +12%
As in the first quarter of the year, demand in end use markets continued to be
robust although Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium's iron and steel co-product markets
softened somewhat in the second quarter. Titanium dioxide feedstock production
at QIT and RBM was similar to the first quarter but well above the first half of
2004. QIT's Upgraded Slag (UGS) expansion continued to ramp up from 250,000
tonnes towards 325,000 tonnes in line with the commissioning schedule.
Production of borates returned to normal following unusually wet weather in the
first quarter.
ALUMINIUM
Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes)
Q2 05 vs Q2 04 vs Q1 05 H1 05 vs H1 04
Rio Tinto Aluminium
Bauxite 3,674 +10% +7% 7,117 +12%
Alumina 779 +51% +10% 1,490 +45%
Aluminium 213.3 +3% +2% 421.6 +1%
Bauxite production continued to increase following the completion of the NeWeipa
mine expansion and the ramp-up of the new Comalco Alumina Refinery which
produced 228,000 tonnes in the quarter.
Good process stability at QAL resulted in quarterly production of over one
million tonnes for the first time. Production from Eurallumina was in line with
the first quarter but marginally below the record levels achieved in the second
half of 2004.
All smelters continued to produce at, or close to, capacity.
COPPER
Rio Tinto share of production
Q2 05 vs Q2 04 vs Q1 05 H1 05 vs H1 04
Kennecott Utah Copper
Mined copper (000 tonnes) 56.7 -11% -9% 118.8 -6%
Refined copper (000 tonnes) 41.5 -33% -27% 98.7 -19%
Molybdenum (000 tonnes) 3.3 +250% -16% 7.1 +181%
Mined gold (000 ozs) 100 +58% -16% 219 +57%
Refined gold (000 ozs) 76 -1% -16% 166 +5%
Escondida
Mined copper (000 tonnes) 94.1 -5% +11% 179.0 -2%
Grasberg JV
Mined copper (000 tonnes) 22.0 +137% -14% 47.8 +222%
Mined gold (000 ozs) 140 +632% -12% 300 +1081%
Kennecott Utah Copper
In order to take advantage of the current strong market for molybdenum, mine
production was optimised to maximise molybdenum production and so copper
concentrate production was lower than in the previous quarters. Both gold and
molybdenum grades were significantly above the first half of 2004. Molybdenum
production also increased as a result of modifications to the molybdenum circuit
at the concentrator. An expansion of the molybdenum plant, which is designed to
increase recoveries, was completed in June 2005.
The May smelter maintenance shutdown proceeded as planned with no major issues.
Escondida
Mined copper production was below the second quarter of 2004, but above the
first quarter of 2005 reflecting variations in grade due to mine sequencing.
Mill throughput continued to be optimised, resulting in improved daily
production rates.
Grasberg
Production of both copper and gold was below the first quarter of 2005 as a
result of scheduled mine sequencing. Harder ore adversely affected mill rates.
Production in the first half of 2005 was significantly above the first half of
2004 when resources were dedicated to recovery from the 2003 material slippage.
Rio Tinto's share of production has been calculated using the adjusted joint
venture allocation, known as the metal strip, which was described in the 2004
fourth quarter operations review.
Other
Production at Palabora reached nameplate capacity in the quarter, averaging in
excess of 30ktpd for both May and June. Nameplate capacity was also achieved at
Northparkes in June.
DIAMONDS
Rio Tinto share of production (000 carats)
Q2 05 vs Q2 04 vs Q1 05 H1 05 vs H1 04
Argyle 9,424 +253% +9% 18,057 +187%
Diavik 1,509 +11% +44% 2,558 +12%
Argyle
Production at Argyle continued at normal levels in the second quarter of 2005,
substantially above the comparable period of 2004, when lower grade ore was
processed as a result of tight mining conditions.
Diavik
Production from Diavik was a quarterly record with higher volumes of ore
processed offsetting the effects of lower grades.
EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION
Pre-tax expenditure on exploration and evaluation charged to the profit and loss
account in the first half of 2005 was $93 million compared with $72 million in
the first half of 2004. Following the presentational changes announced in May
2005, some of this expenditure will be charged against business unit earnings.
Exploration drilling continued on copper targets in Chile, Turkey, Mexico and in
the US. Diamond exploration continued in Canada, Botswana, Mauritania, India
and Brazil. Iron ore exploration continued in the Hamersley Basin (Western
Australia) and in west Africa. Exploration for thermal and coking coal
opportunities continued in southern Africa, Australia and Canada. At La Sampala
(nickel, Indonesia), scoping studies are underway.
Brownfield exploration is under way at a number of Rio Tinto businesses, with
notable efforts to expand resources being made in the Pilbara, at KUC, on the
Freeport and Cortez joint ventures, at Greens Creek, and at Northparkes.
Evaluation work continued at Eagle (nickel/copper, US), Sari Gunay (gold, Iran),
Resolution (copper/gold, US), Potasio Rio Colorado (potash, Argentina) and
Simandou (iron ore, Guinea). Reflecting the positive progress so far in its
evaluation and pilot work at Potasio Rio Colorado, Rio Tinto exercised its
option over the Potasio Rio Colorado project in July 2005 to take full ownership
of the project.
For further information, please contact:
LONDON AUSTRALIA
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Lisa Cullimore Ian Head
Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2305 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620
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Nigel Jones Dave Skinner
Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2401 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628
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Richard Brimelow Susie Creswell
Office: +44 (0) 20 7753 2326 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3639
Mobile: +44 (0) 7753 783 825 Mobile: +61 (0) 418 933 792
Website: www.riotinto.com
RIO TINTO PRODUCTION SUMMARY
RIO TINTO SHARE OF PRODUCTION
QUARTER HALF YEAR % CHANGE
2004 2005 2005 2004 2005 Q2 05 Q2 05 H1 05
Q2 Q1 Q2 H1 H1 vs vs vs
Principal Commodities Q1 05 Q2 04 H1 04
Alumina ('000 t) 517 710 779 1,030 1,490 10% 51% 45%
Aluminium ('000 t) 207.0 208.3 213.3 417.1 421.6 2% 3% 1%
Borates ('000 t) 141 122 146 275 268 20% 4% -2%
Coal - hard coking coal ('000 t) 2,101 1,902 1,952 3,301 3,855 3% -7% 17%
Coal - other Australian ('000 t) 8,597 7,993 7,298 15,885 15,290 -9% -15% -4%
Coal - US ('000 t) 28,861 29,240 28,916 56,264 58,156 -1% 0% 3%
Copper - mined ('000 t) 193.4 188.2 190.1 373.4 378.3 1% -2% 1%
Copper - refined ('000 t) 81.6 77.8 62.0 169.0 139.8 -20% -24% -17%
Diamonds ('000 cts) 4,033 9,733 10,985 8,568 20,719 13% 172% 142%
Gold - mined ('000 ozs) 376 460 420 757 881 -9% 12% 16%
Gold - refined ('000 ozs) 77 90 76 158 166 -16% -1% 5%
Iron ore ('000 t) 28,048 27,618 32,166 51,547 59,784 16% 15% 16%
Titanium dioxide feedstock ('000 t) 291 321 328 577 649 2% 13% 12%
Other Metals & Minerals
Bauxite ('000 t) 3,331 3,443 3,674 6,339 7,117 7% 10% 12%
Lead - mined ('000 t) 8.1 3.4 3.3 18.4 6.7 -1% -59% -64%
Molybdenum ('000 t) 0.9 3.9 3.3 2.5 7.1 -16% 250% 181%
Salt ('000 t) 1,257 1,383 1,392 2,390 2,776 1% 11% 16%
Silver - mined ('000 ozs) 3,465 4,020 3,726 7,230 7,746 -7% 8% 7%
Silver - refined ('000 ozs) 768 755 1,138 1,546 1,893 51% 48% 22%
Talc ('000 t) 361 357 363 717 720 2% 0% 0%
Uranium (tonnes) 1,357 1,593 1,352 2,788 2,945 -15% 0% 6%
Zinc - mined ('000 t) 21.5 10.0 10.4 51.4 20.4 4% -52% -60%
Throughout this report, figures in italics indicate adjustments made since the
figure was previously quoted on the equivalent page.
Production figures are sometimes more precise than the rounded numbers shown,
hence small differences may result between the total of the quarter figures and
the half year figures.
RIO TINTO SHARE OF PRODUCTION
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
ALUMINA
Production ('000 tonnes)
Comalco Alumina Refinery (a) 100% - - 175 196 228 - 425
Eurallumina 56% 144 155 154 148 150 289 298
Queensland Alumina 39% 373 375 342 366 401 741 767
Rio Tinto total alumina production 517 530 671 710 779 1,030 1,490
ALUMINIUM
Refined production ('000 tonnes)
Anglesey 51% 18.2 18.9 18.4 18.2 18.2 36.5 36.4
Bell Bay 100% 40.8 38.2 41.2 42.8 43.5 82.6 86.3
Boyne Island 59% 79.7 82.0 79.1 79.5 81.6 160.2 161.1
Tiwai Point 79% 68.3 71.2 70.4 67.8 70.0 137.8 137.8
Rio Tinto total aluminium production 207.0 210.4 209.1 208.3 213.3 417.1 421.6
BAUXITE
Production ('000 tonnes)
Boke (b) 0% 58 - - - - 179 -
Weipa 100% 3,273 3,157 3,333 3,443 3,674 6,160 7,117
Rio Tinto total bauxite production 3,331 3,157 3,333 3,443 3,674 6,339 7,117
BORATES
Borates ('000 tonnes B2O3 content)
Rio Tinto total borate production 100% 141 153 137 122 146 275 268
COAL - HARD COKING
Rio Tinto Coal Australia (c) ('000 tonnes)
Hail Creek Coal (d) 82% 1,325 1,376 1,100 1,136 1,223 2,156 2,360
Kestrel Coal 80% 776 693 289 766 729 1,145 1,495
Rio Tinto total hard coking coal production 2,101 2,070 1,389 1,902 1,952 3,301 3,855
COAL - OTHER *
Rio Tinto Coal Australia (c) ('000 tonnes)
Bengalla 30% 462 526 295 433 386 787 819
Blair Athol Coal 71% 2,206 2,169 2,157 1,892 1,789 4,386 3,681
Hunter Valley Operations 76% 2,625 2,671 2,762 2,525 2,292 4,613 4,817
Kestrel Coal 80% 167 173 61 160 227 265 387
Mount Thorley Operations 61% 576 593 573 597 648 983 1,245
Tarong Coal 100% 1,787 1,888 1,651 1,784 1,334 3,464 3,118
Warkworth 42% 774 783 757 602 622 1,386 1,224
Total Australian other coal 8,597 8,803 8,255 7,993 7,298 15,885 15,290
Kennecott Energy ('000 tonnes)
Antelope 100% 6,628 7,152 7,229 6,687 6,788 12,547 13,474
Colowyo (e) 1,415 1,494 1,412 1,315 1,315 2,882 2,629
Cordero Rojo 100% 8,263 9,023 9,358 9,170 8,736 16,852 17,905
Decker 50% 1,062 1,104 1,235 540 872 1,576 1,412
Jacobs Ranch 100% 8,705 8,833 8,792 9,032 8,188 17,354 17,219
Spring Creek 100% 2,789 2,791 3,046 2,497 3,018 5,054 5,516
Total US coal 28,861 30,398 31,072 29,240 28,916 56,264 58,156
Rio Tinto total other coal production 37,459 39,201 39,327 37,233 36,214 72,149 73,446
COPPER
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Bingham Canyon 100% 64.0 63.3 73.9 62.1 56.7 126.5 118.8
Escondida 30% 99.1 87.5 91.8 84.9 94.1 182.9 179.0
Grasberg - FCX (f) 0% - - - - - 5.5 -
Grasberg - Joint Venture (f) 40% 9.3 9.2 24.0 25.7 22.0 14.8 47.8
Neves Corvo (g) 0% 11.4 - - - - 23.0 -
Northparkes 80% 4.7 6.0 7.4 8.6 9.5 10.6 18.1
Palabora 49% 4.9 8.7 7.9 6.9 7.7 10.2 14.6
Rio Tinto total mine production 193.4 174.7 204.9 188.2 190.1 373.4 378.3
Refined production ('000 tonnes)
Atlantic Copper (f) 0% - - - - - 7.0 -
Escondida 30% 11.4 11.4 11.6 11.4 11.2 22.7 22.5
Kennecott Utah Copper 100% 61.7 63.1 61.6 57.2 41.5 122.0 98.7
Palabora 49% 8.5 8.0 8.0 9.2 9.3 17.3 18.6
Rio Tinto total refined production 81.6 82.5 81.1 77.8 62.0 169.0 139.8
Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal produced
in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these products are then
refined on-site.
* Coal - other includes thermal coal and semi-soft coking coal.
See footnotes on page 10.
RIO TINTO SHARE OF PRODUCTION (continued)
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
DIAMONDS
Production ('000 carats)
Argyle 100% 2,669 5,328 9,011 8,633 9,424 6,282 18,057
Diavik 60% 1,364 1,358 901 1,049 1,509 2,286 2,558
Murowa (h) 78% - 2 34 51 52 - 104
Rio Tinto total diamond production 4,033 6,688 9,946 9,733 10,985 8,568 20,719
GOLD
Mine production ('000 ounces)
Barneys Canyon 100% 4 5 5 4 4 11 9
Bingham Canyon 100% 59 72 109 115 95 128 210
Cortez/Pipeline 40% 115 105 87 88 110 228 198
Escondida 30% 16 16 15 16 13 34 29
Grasberg - FCX (f) 0% - - - - - 14 -
Grasberg - Joint Venture (f) 40% 19 22 35 159 140 25 300
Greens Creek 70% 16 15 14 15 14 32 29
Kelian (i) 90% 73 64 90 31 8 141 38
Lihir (j) 14% 24 22 24 15 E 19 40 E 34
Morro do Ouro (k) 0% 23 24 23 - - 48 -
Northparkes 80% 15 14 18 10 11 32 21
Rawhide 51% 7 6 6 6 5 14 10
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe (l) 0% 3 - - - - 6 -
Others - 2 1 1 2 2 4 3
Rio Tinto total mine production 376 367 428 460 420 757 881
Refined production ('000 ounces)
Kennecott Utah Copper 100% 77 74 68 90 76 158 166
IRON ORE
Production ('000 tonnes)
Channar 60% 1,516 1,623 1,312 1,524 1,311 2,920 2,835
Corumba 100% 306 352 375 377 372 574 749
Eastern Range (m) 645 1,050 1,272 1,295 1,831 648 3,126
Hamersley 100% 16,273 17,140 17,587 15,836 19,704 30,680 35,540
Iron Ore Company of Canada (n) 59% 2,199 315 2,058 2,014 2,459 4,169 4,472
Robe River 53% 7,110 6,828 6,299 6,572 6,489 12,557 13,061
Rio Tinto total mine production 28,048 27,307 28,903 27,618 32,166 51,547 59,784
LEAD
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Greens Creek 70% 3.9 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 7.2 6.7
Zinkgruvan (o) 0% 4.2 - - - - 11.2 -
Rio Tinto total mine production 8.1 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 18.4 6.7
MOLYBDENUM
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Bingham Canyon 100% 0.9 1.5 2.8 3.9 3.3 2.5 7.1
NICKEL
Toll refined metal production (tonnes)
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe - Empress (l) 0% 648 - - - - 1,619 -
SALT
Production ('000 tonnes)
Dampier Salt 65% 1,257 1,271 1,131 1,383 1,392 2,390 2,776
SILVER
Mine production ('000 ounces)
Bingham Canyon 100% 785 947 1,121 1,140 1,050 1,515 2,190
Escondida 30% 482 404 427 434 439 893 872
Grasberg - FCX (f) 0% - - - - - 79 -
Grasberg - Joint Venture (f) 40% 53 135 583 118 249 66 366
Greens Creek 70% 1,584 1,813 1,664 2,120 1,797 3,344 3,916
Zinkgruvan (o) 0% 225 - - - - 651 -
Others - 336 270 235 209 193 682 402
Rio Tinto total mine production 3,465 3,569 4,031 4,020 3,726 7,230 7,746
Refined production ('000 ounces)
Kennecott Utah Copper 100% 768 854 944 755 1,138 1,546 1,893
Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal produced
in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these products are then
refined on-site, except for the data for iron ore which represent production of
saleable quantities of ore plus pellets.
See footnotes on page 10. E = Estimated number.
RIO TINTO SHARE OF PRODUCTION (continued)
Rio 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
Tinto
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
TALC
Production ('000 tonnes)
Luzenac Group 99.9% 361 371 354 357 363 717 720
TIN
Mine production (tonnes)
Neves Corvo (g) 0% 38 - - - - 59 -
TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK
Production ('000 tonnes)
Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium 100% 291 296 319 321 328 577 649
URANIUM
Production (tonnes U3O8)
Energy Resources of Australia 68% 751 931 1,026 1,001 855 1,560 1,856
Rossing 69% 607 679 549 592 497 1,228 1,089
Rio Tinto total uranium production 1,357 1,610 1,575 1,593 1,352 2,788 2,945
ZINC
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Greens Creek 70% 11.0 10.7 11.7 10.0 10.4 21.7 20.4
Zinkgruvan (o) 0% 10.5 - - - - 29.7 -
Rio Tinto total mine production 21.5 10.7 11.7 10.0 10.4 51.4 20.4
Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal produced
in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these products are then
refined on-site.
See footnotes below.
Production data notes
(a) Comalco Alumina Refinery started production in the fourth quarter of
2004.
(b) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its 4.0% interest in the Boke mine on 25
June 2004. Production data are shown up to the date of sale.
(c) Rio Tinto Coal Australia manages all the operations below; including the
mines which were previously reported separately under the Coal & Allied name.
(d) Rio Tinto reduced its shareholding in Hail Creek from 92.0% to 82.0% on
15 November 2004.
(e) Kennecott Energy has a partnership interest in the Colowyo mine but, as
it is responsible under a management agreement for the operation of the mine,
all of Colowyo's output is included in Rio Tinto's share of production.
(f) From mid 1995 until 30 March 2004, Rio Tinto held 23.93 million shares
of Freeport-McMoRan-Copper & Gold (FCX) common stock from which it derived a
share of production. This interest was sold to FCX on 30 March 2004. Also,
through a joint venture agreement with FCX, Rio Tinto is entitled, as shown
separately in the above tables, to 40% of additional material mined as a
consequence of expansions and developments of the Grasberg facilities since
1998.
(g) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its 49% interest in Somincor on 18 June
2004. Production data are shown up to the date of sale.
(h) Ore mining and processing at Murowa commenced during the third quarter
of 2004.
(i) Kelian ceased processing ore on the 7 February 2005 and the final gold
pour was on 27 May 2005.
(j) Rio Tinto's share of gold production includes an estimate of the
production from the Lihir gold mine for the second quarter of 2005. The actual
second quarter production, which may be different from the figure in this
report, will be announced by Lihir Gold on 28 July 2005. The estimate in this
report is based on the indicative second quarter 2005 production as previously
disclosed in the Lihir Gold Limited First Quarter Mining and Exploration Report
(published 26 April 2005).
(k) Rio Tinto sold its interest in Morro do Ouro on the 31 December 2004.
Production data are shown up to the date of sale.
(l) As a result of the corporate restructuring completed on 8 July 2004,
Rio Tinto has ceased to be an ordinary shareholder in the renamed RioZim but
will retain a reduced cash participation in its gold and nickel assets for a
period of ten years.
(m) Rio Tinto's share of production includes 100% of the production from the
Eastern Range mine, which commenced production in March 2004. Under the terms of
the joint venture agreement, Hamersley Iron manages the operation and is obliged
to purchase all mine production from the joint venture.
(n) Rio Tinto sold its 19% of the Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Income Fund on
23 March 2005. The Fund has a shareholding in Iron Ore Company of Canada but
this has not been included in the calculation of tonnage attributable to Rio
Tinto.
(o) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its 100% interest in the Zinkgruvan mine
on 2 June 2004. Production data are shown up to the date of sale.
Where Rio Tinto's beneficial interest in an operation has changed, as indicated
above, the share of production has been calculated using the weighted average
interest over the relevant periods. Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is
at 30 June 2005.
RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
ALUMINIUM
Rio Tinto Aluminium
Weipa mine 100.0%
Queensland, Australia
Beneficiated bauxite production ('000 3,273 3,157 3,333 3,443 3,674 6,160 7,117
tonnes)
Metal grade bauxite shipments ('000 tonnes) 2,861 3,213 3,242 3,466 3,472 5,842 6,938
Calcined bauxite production ('000 tonnes) 36 45 44 32 150 80 182
Boke mine (a) 0.0%
Guinea
Bauxite production ('000 tonnes) 2,961 - - - - 5,773 -
Comalco Alumina Refinery (b) 100.0%
Queensland, Australia
Alumina production ('000 tonnes) - - 175 196 228 - 425
Eurallumina refinery 56.2%
Sardinia, Italy
Alumina production ('000 tonnes) 256 275 274 264 267 515 531
Queensland Alumina refinery 38.6%
Queensland, Australia
Alumina production ('000 tonnes) 966 971 887 948 1,038 1,920 1,986
Anglesey Aluminium smelter 51.0%
United Kingdom
Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes) 35.6 37.2 36.1 35.6 35.8 71.5 71.3
Bell Bay smelter 100.0%
Tasmania, Australia
Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes) 40.8 38.2 41.2 42.8 43.5 82.6 86.3
Boyne Island smelter 59.4%
Queensland, Australia
Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes) 134.3 135.8 135.8 132.5 136.1 269.0 268.5
Tiwai Point smelter 79.4%
New Zealand
Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes) 86.0 88.7 88.6 85.4 87.7 173.0 173.1
Rio Tinto Aluminium share
Share of primary aluminium sales ('000 tonnes) 218.5 208.5 210.2 196.7 215.3 422.0 412.0
(a) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its 4.0% interest in the Boke mine on 25
June 2004. Production data are shown up to the date of sale.
(b) Comalco Alumina Refinery started production in the fourth quarter of
2004.
BORATES
Rio Tinto Borax 100.0%
California, US and Argentina
Borates ('000 tonnes) (a) 141 153 137 122 146 275 268
(a) Production is expressed as B2O3 content.
Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 30 June 2005. The data represent full production and sales on a
100% basis unless otherwise stated.
RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
COAL
Kennecott Energy and Coal Company
Antelope mine 100.0%
Wyoming, US
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 6,628 7,152 7,229 6,687 6,788 12,547 13,474
Colowyo mine (a)
Colorado, US
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,415 1,494 1,412 1,315 1,315 2,882 2,629
Cordero Rojo mine 100.0%
Wyoming, US
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 8,263 9,023 9,358 9,170 8,736 16,852 17,905
Decker mine 50.0%
Montana, US
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 2,123 2,209 2,471 1,080 1,745 3,151 2,825
Jacobs Ranch mine 100.0%
Wyoming, US
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 8,705 8,833 8,792 9,032 8,188 17,354 17,219
Spring Creek mine 100.0%
Montana, US
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 2,789 2,791 3,046 2,497 3,018 5,054 5,516
Total coal production ('000 tonnes) 29,923 31,503 32,307 29,780 29,789 57,839 59,568
Total coal sales ('000 tonnes) 29,923 31,503 32,307 29,780 29,789 57,839 59,568
(a) Kennecott Energy has a partnership interest in the Colowyo mine but, as
it is responsible under a management agreement for the operation of the mine,
all of Colowyo's output is included in Rio Tinto's share of production.
Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 30 June 2005. The data represent full production and sales on a
100% basis unless otherwise stated.
RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
COAL (continued)
Rio Tinto Coal Australia (a)
Bengalla mine 30.3%
New South Wales, Australia
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,525 1,737 975 1,430 1,274 2,600 2,704
Blair Athol Coal mine 71.2%
Queensland, Australia
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 3,097 3,045 3,027 2,655 2,512 6,157 5,167
Hail Creek Coal mine (b) 82.0%
Queensland, Australia
Hard coking coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,441 1,496 1,264 1,386 1,492 2,344 2,878
Hunter Valley Operations 75.7%
New South Wales, Australia
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 2,738 2,838 3,340 2,765 2,497 4,993 5,262
Semi-soft coking coal production ('000 tonnes) 729 689 308 570 530 1,100 1,101
Kestrel Coal mine 80.0%
Queensland, Australia
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 209 216 76 200 283 331 483
Hard coking coal production ('000 tonnes) 970 867 361 957 912 1,431 1,869
Mount Thorley Operations 60.6%
New South Wales, Australia
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 710 722 817 718 612 1,224 1,330
Semi-soft coking coal production ('000 tonnes) 240 258 129 268 458 398 725
Tarong Coal mine 100.0%
Queensland, Australia
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,787 1,888 1,651 1,784 1,334 3,464 3,118
Warkworth mine 42.1%
New South Wales, Australia
Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes) 1,394 1,381 1,560 1,380 1,335 2,611 2,715
Semi-soft coking coal production ('000 tonnes) 447 479 239 50 145 684 195
Total hard coking coal production ('000 tonnes) 2,410 2,363 1,625 2,343 2,403 3,775 4,746
Total hard coking coal sales ('000 tonnes) 1,605 2,226 1,734 1,973 2,312 2,904 4,285
Total other coal production ('000 tonnes) (c) 12,877 13,254 12,122 11,821 10,979 23,563 22,800
Total other coal sales ('000 tonnes) (d) 12,744 13,249 11,526 12,409 10,813 24,005 23,222
(e)
Total coal production ('000 tonnes) 15,287 15,616 13,748 14,164 13,382 27,338 27,547
Total coal sales ('000 tonnes) 14,349 15,475 13,260 14,382 13,126 26,909 27,507
Rio Tinto Coal Australia share
Share of hard coking coal sales ('000 tonnes) 1,412 1,948 1,481 1,608 1,881 2,559 3,489
Share of other coal sales ('000 tonnes) (d) (e) 8,572 8,882 7,767 8,306 7,241 16,155 15,547
(a) Rio Tinto Coal Australia manages all the operations below; the mines in
New South Wales were previously reported separately under the Coal & Allied
name.
(b) Rio Tinto reduced its shareholding in Hail Creek from 92.0% to 82.0% on
15 November 2004.
(c) Other coal production includes thermal coal and semi-soft coking coal.
(d) Other coal sales includes thermal coal, semi-soft coking coal and
semi-hard coking coal (a mixture of thermal coal and coking coal).
(e) Sales relate only to coal mined by the operations and exclude traded
coal.
Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 30 June 2005. The data represent full production and sales on a
100% basis unless otherwise stated.
RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
COPPER & GOLD
Escondida 30.0%
Chile
Sulphide ore treated ('000 tonnes) 21,197 20,637 20,925 19,913 21,725 40,816 41,638
Average copper grade (%) 1.61 1.47 1.47 1.41 1.51 1.55 1.46
Mill production (metals in concentrates):
Contained copper ('000 tonnes) 284.2 256.8 265.1 241.1 277.8 523.8 519.0
Contained gold ('000 ounces) 55 53 51 55 44 113 98
Contained silver ('000 ounces) 1,606 1,347 1,424 1,446 1,462 2,976 2,908
Oxide ore treated ('000 tonnes) 4,186 3,996 4,282 4,236 4,218 7,365 8,455
Average copper grade (%) 1.10 0.87 0.96 0.99 0.85 1.16 0.92
Contained copper in leachate/mined material ('000 46 35 41 42 36 86 78
tonnes)
Refined production:
Oxide plant production ('000 tonnes) 37.9 38.0 38.5 37.9 37.2 75.6 75.1
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (a)
Grasberg mine 0.0% (40.0% of the expansion)
Papua, Indonesia
Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 14,946 17,845 21,142 17,946 19,271 28,763 37,217
Average mill head grades:
Copper (%) 0.82 0.83 1.17 1.14 0.98 0.67 1.06
Gold (g/t) 0.95 0.79 1.20 1.62 1.43 0.69 1.52
Silver (g/t) 4.01 3.74 4.32 5.26 4.54 3.57 4.89
Production of metals in concentrates:
Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes) 107.7 129.7 223.1 183.5 164.1 163.5 347.6
Gold in concentrates ('000 ounces) 395 370 684 788 750 531 1,537
Silver in concentrates ('000 ounces) 1,143 1,199 1,956 1,805 1,576 1,882 3,380
Sales of payable metals in concentrates: (b)
Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes) 101.7 127.9 213.1 173.0 164.4 154.6 337.4
Gold in concentrates ('000 ounces) 370 372 652 743 759 500 1,502
Silver in concentrates ('000 ounces) 862 943 1,490 1,358 1,257 1,425 2,614
(a) See note (f) on page 10 concerning Rio Tinto's previous direct interest
in Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold and its continuing 40% interest in the
expansion of Grasberg.
(b) Net of smelter deductions.
Atlantic Copper smelter 0.0%
Spain
Concentrates and scrap smelted ('000 tonnes) - - - - - 187.1 -
Copper anodes produced ('000 tonnes) (c) - - - - - 57.5 -
Copper cathodes produced ('000 tonnes) - - - - - 58.4 -
Copper cathode sales ('000 tonnes) (d) - - - - - 50.8 -
(c) New metal excluding recycled material.
(d) Refers to copper cathode and wire rod sales.
Kelian Equatorial Mining (a) 90.0%
East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 2,134 2,057 2,141 826 - 4,253 826
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 1.84 1.56 2.15 1.68 - 1.71 1.68
Silver (g/t) 4.12 3.90 4.61 2.29 - 4.03 2.29
Production:
Gold ('000 ounces) 81 71 100 34 8 157 43
Silver ('000 ounces) 52 93 86 27 4 117 32
Sales:
Gold ('000 ounces) 70 76 19 90 10 183 100
Silver ('000 ounces) - - - - 304 148 304
(a) Kelian ceased processing ore on 7 February 2005 and the final gold pour
was on 27 May 2005. Mine closure programmes including reclamation,
rehabilitation and sustainable monitoring continue.
Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 30 June 2005. The data represent full production and sales on a
100% basis unless otherwise stated.
RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
COPPER & GOLD (continued)
Kennecott Minerals Company
Cortez/Pipeline mine 40.0%
Nevada, US
Ore treated
Milled ('000 tonnes) 760 794 759 823 868 1,541 1,690
Leached ('000 tonnes) 7,110 9,673 8,619 8,021 5,962 16,357 13,983
Sold for roasting ('000 tonnes) 111 107 109 42 72 207 114
Average ore grade: gold
Milled (g/t) 6.43 5.31 3.82 4.78 5.62 6.28 5.21
Leached (g/t) 0.73 0.70 0.66 0.67 0.60 0.75 0.64
Sold for roasting (g/t) 6.21 6.90 7.95 7.26 6.52 6.07 6.79
Gold produced ('000 ounces) 288 264 217 220 274 571 495
Greens Creek mine 70.3%
Alaska, US
Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 177 182 189 168 178 359 346
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 6.21 5.43 4.95 5.46 5.22 6.03 5.34
Silver (g/t) 560 619 533 735 608 566 670
Zinc (%) 11.9 11.1 10.9 10.8 10.5 11.3 10.7
Lead (%) 4.6 3.9 3.9 4.3 4.1 4.2 4.2
Metals produced in concentrates:
Gold ('000 ounces) 23 21 20 21 20 45 41
Silver ('000 ounces) 2,254 2,580 2,368 3,016 2,557 4,759 5,573
Zinc ('000 tonnes) 15.6 15.3 16.6 14.2 14.7 30.9 29.0
Lead ('000 tonnes) 5.6 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.7 10.2 9.5
Rawhide mine (a) 51.0%
Nevada, US
Metals produced in dore:
Gold ('000 ounces) 13 11 12 11 9 27 20
Silver ('000 ounces) 122 111 121 103 88 230 191
(a) Mining operations were completed in October 2002 and processing of
stockpiled ores was completed in May 2003. Residual gold and silver production
continues from the leach pads.
Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 30 June 2005. The data represent full production and sales on a
100% basis unless otherwise stated.
RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
COPPER & GOLD (continued)
Kennecott Utah Copper
Barneys Canyon mine (a) 100.0%
Utah, US
Gold produced ('000 ounces) 4 5 5 4 4 11 9
(a) Mining operations ceased in the first quarter of 2002. Gold continues to
be recovered from leach pads.
Bingham Canyon mine 100.0%
Utah, US
Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 11,054 11,943 12,219 11,664 11,757 21,551 23,421
Average ore grade:
Copper (%) 0.62 0.58 0.67 0.60 0.53 0.63 0.56
Gold (g/t) 0.23 0.26 0.38 0.42 0.35 0.25 0.38
Silver (g/t) 2.81 2.95 3.60 3.75 3.36 2.78 3.55
Molybdenum (%) 0.019 0.028 0.055 0.063 0.057 0.023 0.060
Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 277 276 291 243 231 539 475
Average concentrate grade (% Cu) 23.1 22.8 25.3 25.5 24.4 23.5 25.0
Production of metals in copper concentrates:
Copper ('000 tonnes) (b) 64.0 63.3 73.9 62.1 56.7 126.5 118.8
Gold ('000 ounces) 59 72 109 115 95 128 210
Silver ('000 ounces) 785 947 1,121 1,140 1,050 1,515 2,190
Molybdenum concentrates produced ('000 tonnes): 1.8 2.8 5.3 7.1 6.3 4.8 13.3
Molybdenum in concentrates ('000 tonnes) 0.9 1.5 2.8 3.9 3.3 2.5 7.1
Kennecott smelter & refinery 100.0%
Copper concentrates smelted ('000 tonnes) 301 288 229 217 224 580 442
Copper anodes produced ('000 tonnes) (c) 64.3 66.1 54.8 50.4 43.1 118.7 93.5
Production of refined metal:
Copper ('000 tonnes) 61.7 63.1 61.6 57.2 41.5 122.0 98.7
Gold ('000 ounces) (d) 77 74 68 90 76 158 166
Silver ('000 ounces) (d) 768 854 944 755 1,138 1,546 1,893
(b) Includes a small amount of copper in precipitates.
(c) New metal excluding recycled material.
(d) Includes gold and silver in intermediate products.
Northparkes Joint Venture 80.0%
New South Wales, Australia
Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 1,157 1,270 1,306 1,300 1,360 2,432 2,660
Average ore grades:
Copper (%) 0.71 0.75 0.93 1.06 0.97 0.75 1.01
Gold (g/t) 0.68 0.66 0.59 0.46 0.43 0.71 0.44
Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 16.6 21.7 25.5 30.2 33.7 35.8 63.8
Contained copper in concentrates:
Saleable production ('000 tonnes) 5.9 7.5 9.3 10.7 11.9 13.2 22.6
Sales ('000 tonnes) (a) 7.2 3.1 6.9 9.4 9.8 10.0 19.2
Contained gold in concentrates:
Saleable production ('000 ounces) 18.7 17.2 22.5 12.5 13.4 39.7 25.9
Sales ('000 ounces) (a) 21.7 11.4 18.1 15.5 9.0 30.4 24.6
(a) Rio Tinto's 80% share of material from the Joint Venture.
Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 30 June 2005. The data represent full production and sales on a
100% basis unless otherwise stated.
RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
COPPER & GOLD (continued)
Palabora 49.2%
Palabora mine
South Africa
Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 1,897 2,345 2,314 2,156 2,459 3,998 4,615
Average ore grade: copper (%) 0.74 0.75 0.73 0.72 0.71 0.75 0.71
Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 35.4 64.2 52.2 48.0 48.4 71.3 96.4
Average concentrate grade: copper (%) 28.3 27.7 30.6 29.3 32.2 29.0 30.8
Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes) 10.0 17.8 16.0 14.1 15.6 20.7 29.7
Palabora smelter/refinery
New concentrate smelted on site ('000 tonnes) 68.0 59.0 67.0 75.2 71.7 127.4 147.0
New copper anodes produced ('000 tonnes) 19.7 14.4 17.3 20.0 19.4 35.5 39.3
Refined new copper produced ('000 tonnes) 17.2 16.2 16.2 18.7 19.0 35.1 37.7
By-products:
Magnetite concentrate ('000 tonnes) 160 144 165 201 189 265 390
Refined nickel sulphate (tonnes) 37 36 41 34 57 90 91
Vermiculite plant
Vermiculite produced ('000 tonnes) 51.5 52.7 50.8 48.1 53.6 89.9 101.7
Rio Tinto Brasil Limitada
Morro do Ouro mine (a) 0.0%
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 4,271 4,409 4,163 - - 8,770 -
Average ore grade: gold (g/t) 0.46 0.44 0.46 - - 0.45 -
Refined gold produced ('000 ounces) 45 48 46 - - 95 -
(a) Rio Tinto sold its interest in Morro do Ouro on 31 December 2004.
Production data are shown up to the date of sale.
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe (a)
Renco mine 0.0%
Zimbabwe
Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 85 - - - - 146 -
Average ore grade: gold (g/t) 3.43 - - - - 3.30 -
Total gold produced ('000 ounces) 6 - - - - 11 -
(a) As a result of the corporate restructuring completed on 8 July 2004, Rio
Tinto has ceased to be an ordinary shareholder in the renamed RioZim but will
retain a reduced cash participation in its gold and nickel assets for a period
of ten years.
Somincor (a)
Neves Corvo mine 0.0%
Portugal
Total ore treated ('000 tonnes) (b) 430 - - - - 878 -
of which, treated to extract tin ('000 tonnes) 8 - - - - 13 -
Average ore grades:
Copper (%) 6.07 - - - - 6.04 -
Tin (%) 1.80 - - - - 1.93 -
Copper production:
Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 98.3 - - - - 198.3 -
Copper concentrate grade: copper (%) 23.6 - - - - 23.7 -
Copper in concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 23.2 - - - - 46.9 -
Tin production:
Tin concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 0.1 - - - - 0.2 -
Tin concentrate grade: tin (%) 67.1 - - - - 65.9 -
Tin in concentrates produced ('000 tonnes) 0.1 - - - - 0.1 -
(a) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its 49% interest in Somincor on 18 June
2004. Production data are shown up to the date of sale.
(b) Total ore treated for both copper and tin production.
Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 30 June 2005. The data represent full production and sales on a
100% basis unless otherwise stated.
RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
DIAMONDS
Argyle Diamonds 100.0%
Western Australia
AK1 ore processed ('000 tonnes) 2,424 2,468 2,618 2,342 2,358 4,490 4,700
AK1 diamonds produced ('000 carats) 2,669 5,328 9,011 8,633 9,424 6,282 18,057
Diavik Diamonds 60.0%
Northwest Territories, Canada
Ore processed ('000 tonnes) 541 560 455 493 650 935 1,143
Diamonds recovered ('000 carats) 2,273 2,263 1,502 1,749 2,515 3,810 4,264
Murowa Diamonds (a) 77.8%
Zimbabwe
Ore processed ('000 tonnes) - 4 27 29 28 - 57
Diamonds recovered ('000 carats) - 3 44 66 67 - 133
(a) Ore mining and processing commenced during the third quarter of 2004.
IRON ORE
Hamersley Iron
Western Australia
Saleable iron ore production ('000 tonnes):
Paraburdoo, Mount Tom Price,
Marandoo, Yandicoogina and Brockman 100.0% 16,273 17,140 17,587 15,836 19,704 30,680 35,540
Channar 60.0% 2,526 2,705 2,187 2,540 2,185 4,867 4,725
Eastern Range (a) 645 1,050 1,272 1,295 1,831 648 3,126
Total production ('000 tonnes) 19,443 20,895 21,046 19,671 23,720 36,194 43,392
Total sales ('000 tonnes) (b) 18,112 19,822 20,913 20,024 21,885 35,776 41,909
(a) Rio Tinto owns 54% of the Eastern Range mine which commenced production
in March 2004. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, Hamersley Iron
manages the operation and is obliged to purchase all mine production from the
joint venture and therefore all of the production is included in Rio Tinto's
share of production.
(b) Sales represent iron ore exported from Western Australian ports.
Iron Ore Company of Canada
Newfoundland & Labrador and Quebec in Canada
Carol Lake operations 58.7%
Saleable iron ore production:
Concentrates ('000 tonnes) 608 0 155 307 745 1,070 1,052
Pellets ('000 tonnes) 3,137 536 3,349 3,122 3,442 6,029 6,564
Sales:
Concentrate ('000 tonnes) 537 238 432 204 612 968 816
Pellets ('000 tonnes) 3,408 1,844 2,517 2,344 3,326 5,480 5,670
Rio Tinto Brasil
Corumba mine 100.0%
Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Saleable iron ore production ('000 tonnes) 306 352 375 377 372 574 749
(a)
(a) Production includes by-product fines.
Robe River Iron Associates
Pannawonica mine 53.0%
Western Australia
Saleable iron ore production ('000 tonnes) 8,437 7,643 7,610 7,333 7,574 14,717 14,907
Sales ('000 tonnes) 7,014 7,602 9,260 7,939 7,118 14,340 15,057
West Angelas mine 53.0%
Western Australia
Saleable iron ore production ('000 tonnes) 4,978 5,240 4,276 5,067 4,670 8,974 9,737
Sales ('000 tonnes) 3,937 5,784 4,764 4,932 4,469 8,678 9,401
Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 30 June 2005. The data represent full production and sales on a
100% basis unless otherwise stated.
RIO TINTO OPERATIONAL DATA
Rio Tinto 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 1H 1H
interest 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2004 2005
NICKEL
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe (a)
Empress Nickel refinery 0.0%
Zimbabwe
Production (tonnes) 1,156 - - - - 2,889 -
(a) As a result of the corporate restructuring completed on 8 July 2004, Rio
Tinto has ceased to be an ordinary shareholder in the renamed RioZim but will
retain a reduced cash participation in its gold and nickel assets for a period
of ten years.
SALT
Dampier Salt 64.9%
Western Australia
Salt production ('000 tonnes) 1,936 1,957 1,742 2,130 2,144 3,681 4,274
TALC
The Luzenac Group 99.9%
Australia, Europe, and North America
Talc production ('000 tonnes) 361 371 355 357 363 717 720
TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK
Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium 100.0%
Canada and South Africa
(Rio Tinto share)
Titanium dioxide feedstock production ('000 tonnes) 291 296 319 321 328 577 649
URANIUM
Energy Resources of Australia Ltd
Ranger mine 68.4%
Northern Territory, Australia
Production (tonnes U3O8) 1,098 1,362 1,500 1,464 1,250 2,281 2,714
Rossing Uranium Ltd 68.6%
Namibia
Production (tonnes U3O8) 885 990 801 863 725 1,791 1,587
ZINC
Zinkgruvan Mining AB 0.0%
Sweden
Ore treated ('000 tonnes) 139 - - - - 335 -
Average ore grades:
Zinc (%) 8.1 - - - - 9.6 -
Lead (%) 3.6 - - - - 3.9 -
Silver (g/t) 77 - - - - 86 -
Production of zinc concentrate ('000 tonnes) 18.7 - - - - 53.5 -
Production of lead concentrate ('000 tonnes) 5.9 - - - - 15.8 -
Production of metal in concentrates:
Zinc ('000 tonnes) 10.5 - - - - 29.7 -
Lead ('000 tonnes) 4.2 - - - - 11.2 -
Silver ('000 ounces) 225 - - - - 651 -
(a) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its 100% interest in the Zinkgruvan mine
on 2 June 2004. Production data are shown up to the date of sale.
Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 30 June 2005. The data represent full production and sales on a 100%
basis unless otherwise stated.
This information is provided by RNS
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